Kirov Raymonda w/ Kolpakova FINALLY on DVD!Wooohooooo!!!!!!

One wonders if VAI will also release the earlier Kirov "Sleeping Beauty" with Kolpakova and Soloviev (excerpts are on various compilation tapes). This I believe was commercially released in Japan only and I think just on VHS. Given the paucity of Soloviev films available and an earlier, fresher Kolpakova with a youthful Mezentseva as the Lilac Fairly this seems a must.

The other Kirov "Beauty"s with Sizova (sixties film truncated) and Kolpakova with Berezhnoi (1980's) are on Kultur. The Lezhnina/Ruzimatov is on Image DVD but the Asymuratova/Zaklinsky has never been on DVD, only Kultur VHS in a mediocre transfer. So VAI really would do well to get this since they lack a real full-length "Beauty" in their catalogue.

I got a slip today advising me to go over to the P.O. and pick up an oversized item that wouldn't fit in my mailbox. No info on origin (which drives me nuts), but I suspect it is my order from Amazon. I'll have to wait until Wednesday, at least.

There is a marked contrast between the first two acts of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky versions of "Raymonda." It's like watching Balanchine's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Ashton's "The Dream" back to back: why are those people dancing now to that music?

In the Bolshoi version, Jean de Brienne appears immediately in the first scene, and he and Raymonda dance together, clearly as an involved couple. Tutus and pointe shoes are prominent. Abderakhman appears first in Raymonda's dream in the second scene. In the Mariinsky version, Abderakhman is introduced to Raymonda and the court in the first scene; Jean de Brienne appears in that scene on a tapestry. His first live appearance is during the dream sequence, and the dancing between them is formal and serene. The women in the first scene wear long dresses and dance in heeled shoes.

For all of its formality, I didn't get much of a sense of formal corps structure in the Mariinsky version. That may have been partly due to the filming, but the combination of floaty dresses and tutus also made it difficult to see the patterns. The Bolshoi version, in my opinion cruder in most ways, ironically does try to formalize the corps in the dream sequence.

The pluses for me in the Bolshoi version: on the whole, I thought the costumes were better, particularly the men's costumes. I love the way the corps in the dream sequence, with the dark silvery tutus, creates a blossom. I also prefer the characterization of Abderakhman. In the Mariinsky version, there's nothing charismatic about the character: in the dream sequence, he's more of a von Rothbartish figure, and in Act II, he does a lot of stalking, but little dancing. (Of course, it helps that Gedeminas Taranda portrayed him in both Bolshoi videos.)

Even: I liked both Vasychenko's and Berezhnoi's Jean de Briennes, each a very different character, and Clemence and Henrietta (Maria Bilova and Olga Suvorova in the Bolshoi. In the Mariinsky, there's a list of credits at the end, but not with character names, and there's only basic info on the single sheet enclosed with the DVD.)

The pluses for me in the Mariinsky version: Pretty much everything else. Irina Kolpakova She has the most gorgeous arms. She doesn't have the uber-pliant back of many of the Mariinsky Odettes, but her carriage is impeccable, and she dances with diamond-like clarity. Structurally, with the exceptions noted above, I much preferred the Mariinsky. For example, there is much more dancing in the Bolshoi version for Clemence and Henriette, and especially Bernard and Beranger (their partners), but I found that Clemence and Henriette's parts in the Mariinsky had more impact: they were presented as something beautiful and rare, although they had prominent solos in each act.*

I hope to read more opinions as the DVD's get delivered. I hope, too, that someone here recognizes the dancers who portray Clemence and Henrietta. One dancer is a little shorter and more muscular than the other*, but I have no idea who they are.

*Edited to add: I confused the Clemence and Henriette with the dream and third act soloists.

Wow, I'm glad that it's on its way to our mailboxes and that Helene and others have actually received it.

I got the same 'further postponement' notice as Cliff received and thought to myself, 'This is the last time that I believe Kultur's promises for release." Hopefully, they won't 'bait' us like this in the future -- promising something in time for the holidays, only to postpone release time and time again. Most frustrating. But at least it's now finally on its way. Hurrah!

I'm only sorry that I got everyone's hopes up by starting this thread, by citing the original release-date. I had no way of knowing what a 'delay-bomb' this would turn out to be. Sorry, everyone.

I would not be surprised if this was an industry issue, with smaller runs being knocked off the presses for restocks of blockbusters that were big holiday buys. I received the same notices for the Met Opera DVD's, which were released on Decca.

Thanks for that, Helene. VAI. Hmmm...wasn't that the company that issued the Jacques D'Amboise DVD that also experienced many delays with issuance following the original announcement? It was worth the wait.